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champagnejayme's review against another edition
3.0
I am not putting spoiler tags on this book from 1968, but if you don't want to know some plot points of "The Iron Giant," avert your eyes!
I definitely allow nostalgia to guide some of my reading choices, and I remember really liking the movie "The Iron Giant” when I was younger. Now that I've read the source material, I'm baffled because the Iron Giant and the little boy barely interact at all. The cover of this book is a lie! Instead, the little boy helps trap the Iron Giant in an earthen pit because he won't stop eating all of the farmers' equipment and fences! Where are the friendship adventures?!
Then in another chapter, I kid you not, a space-bat-angel-dragon is hatched out of a star, flies down to earth, and the Iron Giant battles him. Is this cool? Of course. But also completely unexpected! I think my problem was expecting giant robot and boy friendship adventures and instead I got boy betraying the robot into a pit and then an alien invasion of sorts.
To enjoy this book, you must go into it not thinking about the movie. You must say to yourself, this is a children's book with a similar title and a large robot, but that is all.
I give "The Iron Giant" 3 out of 5 robots, which is my official, patented sci-fi rating system.
I definitely allow nostalgia to guide some of my reading choices, and I remember really liking the movie "The Iron Giant” when I was younger. Now that I've read the source material, I'm baffled because the Iron Giant and the little boy barely interact at all. The cover of this book is a lie! Instead, the little boy helps trap the Iron Giant in an earthen pit because he won't stop eating all of the farmers' equipment and fences! Where are the friendship adventures?!
Then in another chapter, I kid you not, a space-bat-angel-dragon is hatched out of a star, flies down to earth, and the Iron Giant battles him. Is this cool? Of course. But also completely unexpected! I think my problem was expecting giant robot and boy friendship adventures and instead I got boy betraying the robot into a pit and then an alien invasion of sorts.
To enjoy this book, you must go into it not thinking about the movie. You must say to yourself, this is a children's book with a similar title and a large robot, but that is all.
I give "The Iron Giant" 3 out of 5 robots, which is my official, patented sci-fi rating system.
richardem's review against another edition
5.0
The basis of the movie
A child’s story, but a wonderful one just the same. It does beg the question, though… what price for peace?
A child’s story, but a wonderful one just the same. It does beg the question, though… what price for peace?
defogcusp's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
c_luck97's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
gmeacher's review
3.0
Picked this up because it inspired the Iron Giant movie. The illustrations are fantastic. The story itself is very strange and perhaps too dark for a Children’s book (depending on age). Taking it as a book unrelated to Iron Giant—it’s a bleak story with wonderful illustrations. The ending is quite a fantastical and romantic way of imagining world peace.
mombearian's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
iona18's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Read this book to my class who are in P6. I had read this book when I was a kid and I enjoyed this re-read
catgemkow's review against another edition
3.0
Great beginner scifi for early, independent readers. I would recommend for 2nd or 3rd graders who want to read classics
driven_by_happy's review against another edition
3.0
The original version is more medieval than I could have imagined. I am glad they remade this into an animation with some good changes.
editrix's review against another edition
5.0
This (the Laura Carlin version!) is a FANTASTIC illustrated edition of a weirdly wonderful book I love. Highly recommended.